Aerosol atomizer and its refill container



ra-m A 8- 0, 1963 B. T. E. PICO'I} AEROSOL ATOMIZER AND ITS REFILL,CONTAINER Filed March 28, 1961 Unite States T ice 3,101,160 AEROSGLATGMIZER AND ITS REFILL CONTAINER Parfums Christian Dior Filed Mar.28,1961, Ser. No. 98,971 Claims priority, application France Jan. 18, 1961-l-Claim. (Cl. 222-483) The present invention isconce-rned withrechargeable aerosol-type atomizers j-aadapted' more particularly forspraying perfumes, toiletwaters, shampoos etc.

Atomizers ofthis general type are already known commerci-ally andcomprise as a rule an outer casing or sheathing for improving theappearance of the device, in-which is fitted a detachable refillcontaining the liquid te-be tomized and a gas under pressure, saidcasing being equipped at its top with valve means. A small orifice isformed in the upper face of said casing to permit the passage of thisvalve and the latter, after the refill has been properly locatedtherein, .emerges through this orifice from the casing. A diffuser headis thenfitted on the valve externally of the casing.

In these atomizers the external casing or sheathing does not correspondexactly in shape to the refill, for a certain clearance must be providedto facilitate the fitting and removal of the refill which, in addition,must'preferably have rounded forms to withstand the pressure of the gascontained therein, whilst the casing has sharp edgesin 1 general. Underthese circumstances, the refill'must be more or iess wedged inside thecasing. This result is obtained by forming the aforesaid. oritire forthe passage of said valve with dimensions cor responding substantiallyto the diameter of the valve stem or knob fitted therein, when therefill is in its operative position; Therefore, the dimensions of thisorfice' are necessarily verysmall. I

These atomizers are. attended by various drawbacks. Thus, moreparticularly the mounting of the refill in the casing is a de licateoperation. The valve must be presented exactly in alignment with thesmall orifice formed in the casing, otherwisethe valve will hit theedge-s of this orifice and release a jet of perfume or other productwhich'will spill on the users hands or in the casing and is thusdefinitively lost. 1

When the refill has been properly fitted in position, the user must fitthe diffuser head on the valve. To do this the diffuser head must bedepressed and this movement is also most. likely to release anotheruntimely jet of perfume or other product.

Moreover, the synthetic films usually applied on the glass surface havea poor appearance in general, and in addition they suffer from theattack by certain liquids, notably the perfumes used in the device.- I

It is the essential object of this invention to provide an'atomizer ofthe aerosol type whereby all the drawbacks listed hereinabove areavoided, this atomizer being to the refill, and as this head is left onthe refill body when the latter is introduced into the casing, any riskof unproper handling is definitely precluded.

This invention is also concerned with a refill 'or cartridge foratomizer, which is remarkable notably in that it comprises a diffuserhead attached to a flat base and consists of a protective sheathenclosing a vessel containing in turn the liquid to be atomized which iskept under pressure by a cushion of compressed gas.

Thus, the refill of this invention can be used independently of anyapparatus, device or sheathing intended to improve its appearance whileeliminating anydanger arising from its use, since it is already.provided with a double-walled' structure, Moreover, the protectivecasing mayhave apleasant or aesthetic appearance, and be made of metalor other substance not attacked by the perfumes; or other products to beatomized. Q 1

Other features and advantages of this invention Willa-p pear as thefollowing description proceeds with reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which: H

FIGURE 1 is -a perspective view showing an aerosoltype atom zerconstructed according to the teachings of this invention, with the capremoved.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view showing the outercas 7 ing separately.

FIGURE 3 shows on a largerscale and in axial section the upper portionof the apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is another perspective view showing a refill or cartridge, withparts broken away.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary axial section showing the 7 upper portion ofrefill casing, according to an" alternate embodiment, and. I

FIGURE 6 is a plan view from above of the casing of FIGURE 5. I

'Ihe atomizer according to this invention comprises an external orappearance casing orcsheathing 1 of any adequate or desired:configuration, for example cylindrical, as shown, on which ornaments andan escutcheon 2, if desired, may be reproduced in order toimpart aluxurious appearance to the assembly, The leasing is proyided with adetachable bottom 3 retained by frictional contact or screw engagementinthe lower portion remarkable notably in that said refill or cartridge is.pro-

vided with an attached diffuser head so as to constitute a unitarystructure adapted and ready to operate as such, said casing beingdesigned with a view to permit the fitting of said refi l-l or cartridgewithout removing said diffuser head or any other component of therefill.

According to a typical feature of this invention, and to a specificembodiment thereof, an orifice formed at the top of said casing isadapted to receive said diffuser head therethrough, so that this heademerges from the casing when the refill is fitted therein.

Thus, with the atomizer of this inventon, to fit a refill or cartridgeconstitutes an extremely simple operation.

It is not necessary to accomplish any delicate handling for fitting thediffuser head since it is already attached of the body 4 of this casing.This bottom 3, in the example illustrated, has a cfiat base 5 and anoverlying sleeve 6 inwhich ribs, notches or outer threads 7 are formed.These ribs, notches or threads co-act with the inner surface of thecasing body 4 to keep the bottom 3 in position. However, according to apreferred embodiment, the base 5 of this bottom has dimensions slightlygreater than those of the lower portion of the body 4 so as to form ashoulder engaging, in the assembled condition, the lower edge of thebody 4. 5

An orifice 9 for example of circular configuration is formed through theupper face or top 8 of the casing;

preferably, in case the casing has a geometrical configurationcomprising two planes of symmetry, this orifice is centered on theintersection of these planes. This orifice has its edges raised to forma shallow collar 10 tapering somewhat towards its upper edge.

Housed within this casing 1 is a refill or cartridge 11 containing theliquid to he atomized and the propellent gas.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, this refill has outer dimensions slightlyinferior to the inner dimensions of the casing and bears through itsbase 12 on a washer 13 of flexible or elastic material fitted in thebottom 3; it is provided at its top with a diffuser head 14, ofcylindrical configuration in the example illustrated; this diffuser head14 is formed at its base with a shoulder or flange '15 having dimensionscorresponding to those of the tapered portion of collar :10 so as to fittherein with the head 14 emerging above. the collar 10. If desired, thediffuser head 14 is provided with a detachable cap 16 adapted to receivethe head 14 in its cavity and to fit on said collar 10. v

The refill 11 can be fitted very easily in the casing 1. The bottom 3 ofthe casing 1 is firstly removed, and then the refill 11 is introducedinto the body 4.

The refill slides along the inner walls of the body 4 and finally thediffuser head 14 registering with the orifice '9 and having dimensionsslightly smaller than those of this orifice penetrates withoutdilficulty through, and is guided by, the collar 16* until it emergescompletely therefrom. Then the refill shoulder 15 engages the inner wallof collar 10, thus holding the refill against axial movement. The bottom3 is then refitted onthe body 4 and the apparatus is ready foruse.

' FIGURE 4 illustrates the refill .11 which, being provided with anattached d ilfuser head secured preferably permanently on the refill,may be used separately. This refill comprises a vessel 17 containingthe; liquid to be atomized and the gas under pressure.

This vessel is made preferably of glass and may be.

' such as polystyrene, metal, etc.

This sheathing comprises a bottom lz consisting for example of a fiatbase with an overlying socket or sleeve 20 adapted to be force fitted,screwed or otherwise secured in the body of sheathing 19, after fittingthe vessel 17 hearing on said bottom through the medium of a Washer 21'of flexible or elastic material.

In certain cases a flanged holding washer 22 may be fittedinside and: inthe upper portion of the sheathing 19. This washer is formed with anaxial orifice 23 adapted to receive the body of the valve 1-8 so asv toproperly position the vessel '17. This holding washer 22 is formed ifdesired with other orifices 24 to facilitate the escape of thepropellent gas, in case of breakage of the vessel 17, and eliminate anyrisk of explosion;

Vent holes 26 are also provided for similarly discharging the gas incase of breakage of the vessel 17.

On top of the sheathing 19 an axial orifice 25 is formed and receivesthe shoulder 15 for wedging the refill in the external casing providedwith ornaments or the like.

Preferably, the diffuser head 14 is slightly recessed within theaforesaid shoulder in order to conceal completely its connection withthe valve. I

Of course, many modifications and variations may be brought to theaerolsol-type atomizer described hereinabove with reference to theattached drawings, without departing from the spirit and scope oftheinvention.

Thus, notably, a bottomlesscasing may be used, the bottom of the refillbeing screwed or mounted in smooth frictional engagement in the casing.On the other hand,

' although an atomizer of substantially cylindrical configuration hasbeen described and illustrated herein, it will be readily understood bythose conversant with the art that this invention is also applicable toatomizers of any shape. 1

Finally, the-invention should not be construed as being limited to thefiorms of embodiment described, illustrated and suggested herein, asthey merely constitute typical examples given to illustrate the mannerin which the invention may be carried out in practice.

What I claim is: V

A refill container for an aerosol atomizer comprising a protectivesheathing provided with a substantially fiat base and an axial orificeat its top, a vessel in said sheathing for the liquid to be atomized andfor a gas under pressure above said liquid, valve means provided on thetop of said vessel emerging through said axial orifice at the top ofsaid sheathing, a difiuser head connected to said valve rneans, and theprotective sheathing having a 1 ing provided in said flange forpermitting the escape of According to .a modified embodiment illustratedin gas in case of accidental breakage of saidvessel.

References titted inthefile'of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS2,756,105 Magill July 24, 1956 7 2,766,072 Commarato Oct. 9, 19562,816,691 Ward Dec. 17, 1957 2,914,222 Meshberg Nov. 24, 1959

